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Hip Replacement at the Age of 21

Posted , 15 users are following.

CRM
CRM

I’m super nervous and will be seeing a specialist consultant soon in London to talk about having my right hip replaced. I have had hip problems since the Age of 8 and to be able to gain a better quality of life I need to have a hip replacement. I would just like any advice or information bearing in my mind terrified of needles. Thank you 

1 like, 33 replies

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  • RichardKen
    RichardKen CRM

    Posted

    Of course you are terrified. When I went for mine twenty-one years ago I certainly was but it had to be done especially as I had had to stop work due to the failing hip and being self employed it was a bad time

    The hip replacement was a huge success and my recovery to full time working was very easy and painless. Go for it.It does help to be as fit as possible, not over weight, not smoking or drinking and have a positive attitude and a very good surgeon.

    Good luck, Richard

    • CRM
      CRM RichardKen

      Posted

      Thank you, so how old was you when you first had your hip replaced? I’m trying my best with excercing however it is quite hard as I’m using crutches and suffer a lot of pain. 
    • april264
      april264 CRM

      Posted

      I was terrified too.  My hip was a year old yesterday and has changed my life.  Don't get me wrong, you need to work at rehabilitation and have a 'prehabilitation' plan too.  I'm 64 in April so not young like yourself but was a busy, active person still having to earn a living.  Take questions with you, have confidence in your consultant, check where you will have the operation and look on the internet for information.  Despite knowing as much as I could  about the actual operation details (I didn't look at any of those videos though) finding out about exercises, aid to managing bedtimes, stairs, washing etc was all invaluable.  I came out prepared and had planned the home environment for my recovery.  This was very rewarding and helped with fears as the time got closer. 

      I had a total right hip replacement at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital in Birmingham under Mr Thomas.  I can barely see my scar 12 months on.  He doesn't use clips but old school stitches and apparently he is the neatest tidiest in the hospital!  Maybe at 21, you may like to ask about things like that?  The incision was at the side and my recovery required no bending past the middle but this was easily managed with aids.  Be strong...I am really proud of myself now given how terrified I was.  

      I wish you well

    • RichardKen
      RichardKen CRM

      Posted

      I was 55 and the revision was needed twenty years later. Cheers Richard
  • tpeter60
    tpeter60 CRM

    Posted

    I was 25 when I had my first replacements. if they are the new Metal on Metal it should be all good. I have since played Softball, backpacked and pretty much anything else I wanted to. Surgery is no fun, but the rewards far outweigh the anxiety. Someone told me before I had mine, that I would be in less pain after surgery than I was going into, they were not lying. 

    I am afraid of needles, which is not uncommon, but look the other way and think about something else. You will be glad you did it when you wake up in recovery. 

    Take all the physical therapy you can. Push as far as the therapist will let you. Once you are in the clear live life. look for what is to come after surgery and not at the immediate. I cannot tell you how much your life will change for the better. 

    I am 50 now and have had my hips replaced a second time due to metal on metal not available back in the day. I was told originally I would have to have them replaced 4-5 times in my life. I would gladly go through it 3-4 more times if needed in my life. My doctor said up front, this is a quality of life decision. No one dies from not having their hips replaced, but the question is how much can you life by not having them replaced. 

    Do tell your doctor your aversion to needles, they can change the order of things sometimes to minimize the number of times they have to stick you. When I was 19 going through Chemo, they would stick me three times. Talked with the nurses and got them to delay two of them until after they put the IV in and went from 3 to 1. Similar happened on my hip replacements, they have options and if asked they will normally help you out. 

    • CRM
      CRM tpeter60

      Posted

      I have been reading that ceramic is used quite often in younger people. I’m not to sure what Replacement I will be having till I see the specialist consultant in London. Thank you for the reply 
    • ptolemy
      ptolemy CRM

      Posted

      I have been reading Rocketman’s discussion on the revision of his hip on this board after his ceramic hip shattered and have been put off ceramic. My surgeon was a bit iffy about it anyway as he said he thought it could cause debris, I had good old polyethylene. 
    • RichardKen
      RichardKen tpeter60

      Posted

      I do hope that the new metal on metal ones do nit have the same problem as the earlier ones. I cannot help thinking that metal on metal is a bad idea, you know surfaces of the same type. Cheers Richard
    • RichardKen
      RichardKen ptolemy

      Posted

      I had the poly cup and titanium combination twenty one years ago and subjected my hip to a lot of heavy work for all of those years and had the same at the revision. Very happy with the outcome. Cheers Richard
  • jen86183
    jen86183 CRM

    Posted

    Hi,

    I was seriously scared of having an operation, never been ill in my 61 years but, the operation was nothing honestly and I have not had any pain since the op. I had a spinal injection, they numb the area first therefore you do not feel anything from the needle. Do not worry yes, you will need bloods taken before op but just turn your head away and it is over without you realising they have taken it.

    • CRM
      CRM jen86183

      Posted

      Blood test is something that gets me, I fainted watching my boyfriend have a blood test sad I have had the hip problems since I was 8. Both hips slipped out of place and they were bolted, however the operation on my right hip failed therefore the reason I’m having a hip replacement. Thank you for your reply smile
  • ptolemy
    ptolemy CRM

    Posted

    In fact the worst part is worrying about the op before you have it. It really is an amazing operation and said to be one of the most successful in the world. 
    • CRM
      CRM ptolemy

      Posted

      Thank you for the confidence build smile
  • kate59160
    kate59160 CRM

    Posted

    Just to reiterate be as fit as possible before, do you use two Nordic poles to get about at all?

    Opposite arms to legs

    I found and find these really good at helping distributing the weight whilst helping and maintain muscle strength .

    I just had my operation 9 days ago and I think here are major differences between male and female hips.  It was a massive shock to wake up with the operated leg an inch longer than before.  This is also about pelvis alignment.  Do ask thoroughly about this because learning to walk and possibly live with different length legs is a massive life change unless I guess, you are already doing this.  Do ask your consultant lots of questions.  

    Do also be aware the anaesthetic varies, I had epidural with sedative which on the whole is less of a knock out than the general but I did have a (common?) reaction where I became intensely itchy and took loads of regular antihystermine after for a few days which took the edge off it.

    I was recommended the steel/ ceramic/plastic/titanium hip replacement.

    Best of luck 

    As I said I’m only 9 days post op

    Keep asking lots of questions 

    Trust your intuition and keep as fit as poss, walking  ‘cross training’ with the two poles which massively helped me before the op and helped reduce pain before the op. If you don’t use them, re assess after a couple off months of using them.

    Kx

    • CRM
      CRM kate59160

      Posted

      Thank you for your story. I am currently on crutches so exercise is a problem for me and in a lot of pain. I try to walk a lot and do exercises laying down. I am due to see a specialist in London, just very nervous but it’s great to read yours and other people stories. 
    • kate59160
      kate59160 CRM

      Posted

      Best of luck with all this, horrible to be in so much pain for so long,

      (If you can try some tall walking poles and see if the difference in weight distribution makes any difference..... ?)

      Best of luck with the specialist, could be really life changing for you kx

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